In*stinct" (?), a. [L.
instinctus, p. p. of instinguere to instigate, incite;
cf. instigare to instigate. Cf. Instigate,
Distinguish.] Urged or stimulated from within; naturally
moved or impelled; imbued; animated; alive; quick; as, birds
instinct with life.
The chariot of paternal deity . . .
Itself instinct with spirit, but convoyed
By four cherubic shapes.
Milton.
A noble performance, instinct with sound
principle.
Brougham.
In"stinct (&ibreve;n"st&ibreve;&nsm;kt),
n. [L. instinctus instigation, impulse, fr.
instinguere to instigate: cf. F. instinct. See
Instinct, a.]
1. Natural inward impulse; unconscious,
involuntary, or unreasoning prompting to any mode of action, whether
bodily, or mental, without a distinct apprehension of the end or
object to be accomplished.
An instinct is a propensity prior to
experience, and independent of instructions.
Paley.
An instinct is a blind tendency to some mode of
action, independent of any consideration, on the part of the agent,
of the end to which the action leads.
Whately.
An instinct is an agent which performs blindly
and ignorantly a work of intelligence and knowledge.
Sir W. Hamilton.
By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust
Ensuing dangers.
Shak.
2. (Zoöl.) Specif., the natural,
unreasoning, impulse by which an animal is guided to the performance
of any action, without thought of improvement in the
method.
The resemblance between what originally was a habit,
and an instinct becomes so close as not to be
distinguished.
Darwin.
3. A natural aptitude or knack; a
predilection; as, an instinct for order; to be modest by
instinct.
In*stinct" (&ibreve;n*st&ibreve;&nsm;kt"), v.
t. To impress, as an animating power, or
instinct. [Obs.] Bentley.
